11 arrested, indicted in multi-state visa fraud operation

DES MOINES, Iowa - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents
arrested 11 individuals in six states Wednesday as part of an investigation
into suspected visa and mail fraud. Matthew G. Whitaker, U.S. Attorney for
the Southern District of Iowa, announced the operation, which was carried
out by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in Iowa,
California, Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and New Jersey.

Vision Systems Group Inc., a New Jersey Domestic Profit Corporation with a
branch office in Coon Rapids, Iowa, was also indicted in a 10-count federal
indictment that included one count of conspiracy, eight counts of mail
fraud, and one count of 'Notice of Forfeiture' in the amount of $7.4
million.

"Today's multi-state enforcement action is the result of an extensive,
ongoing investigation into suspected H-1B visa fraud, mail fraud, and
conspiracy," said U.S. Attorney Whitaker. "Dubbed "Operation Pacific
Vision," this investigation is the result of outstanding cooperation and
collaboration among law enforcement agencies at all levels of government."

The investigation is being conducted by ICE in collaboration with U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services' Fraud Detection and National Security
Division (FDNS); U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General;
U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); U.S. Department of State; Social
Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General, and is supported
by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

"This case highlights the Department of Homeland Security's commitment to
identifying and dismantling visa fraud schemes," said Homeland Security
Acting Assistant Secretary for ICE John P. Torres. "Ensuring the integrity
of our nation's legal immigration system is a top priority for ICE."

"This is a prime example of how the Department of Homeland Security
identifies fraud," said Michael Aytes, USCIS's acting deputy director. "Our
adjudication officers can spot inconsistencies during the application
process that ultimately led to the successful outcome we're seeing today.
Visa fraud undermines the integrity of the immigration system and I'm proud
that our officers have helped to ensure that the American people and our
customers can continue to depend on a reliable system."

Federal authorities, with assistance from state and local law enforcement,
served search warrants at addresses in Urbandale and Clive, Iowa; in Santa
Clara, Rancho Cucamonga and Arcadia, Calif.; and in South Plainfield, N.J.

This investigation involves companies that sponsor primarily H-1B
non-immigrants, or temporary workers in specialty occupations that require a
particular expertise. The companies that are the subject of this
investigation have asserted that the foreign workers have been brought to
the U.S. to fill existing vacancies. However, the companies allegedly have
not always had jobs available for these workers, thereby placing them in
non-pay status after they arrive in the United States. In some cases, the
foreign workers have allegedly been placed in jobs and locations not
previously certified by the Department of Labor, displacing qualified
American workers and violating prevailing wage laws.

The companies and foreign workers have allegedly submitted false statements
and documents in support of their visa petitions. The false statements and
documents were mailed or wired to state and federal agencies in support of
the visa applications. The companies are suspected of visa fraud, mail
fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy.

"The foreign labor certification programs are designed to permit U.S.
employers to hire foreign workers to fill jobs essential to American
businesses," said Daniel R. Petrole, deputy inspector general, U.S.
Department of Labor. "Our agency remains resolute in its commitment with its
law enforcement partners to investigate fraud committed against these
Department of Labor programs."

U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty
occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized
fields, such as scientists, engineers, or computer programmers. As part of
the H-1B program, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the
Department of Labor (DOL) require U.S. employers to meet specific labor
conditions to ensure that American workers are not adversely impacted, while
the DOL's Wage and Hour Division safeguards the treatment and compensation
of H-1B workers. Congress sets a numerical cap for the admission of skilled
workers into the U.S. The current H-1B cap is set at 65,000 visas per fiscal
year. H-1B aliens can work in the United States for three years, with an
option for an additional three years (for a maximum of six years).

Those arrested Wednesday by ICE agents include:

Shiva Neeli, arrested in Boston, Mass.; charged with conspiracy and mail
fraud.
Ramakrishna Maguluri, arrested in Atlanta, Ga.; charged with conspiracy and
mail fraud.
Villiappan Subbaiah, arrested in Dallas, Texas; charged with conspiracy and
mail fraud.
Suresh Pola, arrested in Pennsylvania; charged with conspiracy and mail
fraud.
Vishnu Reddy, arrested in Los Angeles, Calif.; charged with conspiracy, mail
fraud and wire fraud.
Chockalingam Palaniappan, arrested in San Jose, Calif.; charged with
conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud.
Vijay Myneni, arrested in San Jose, Calif.; charged with conspiracy and mail
fraud.
Venkata Guduru, arrested in New Jersey; charged with conspiracy and mail
fraud.
Praveen Andapally, arrested in New Jersey; charged with conspiracy, mail
fraud, wire fraud, and making false statements in an immigration matter.
Amit Justa, arrested in New Jersey; charged with conspiracy and mail fraud.
Karambir Yadav, arrested in Louisville, Ky.; charged with conspiracy and
mail fraud.
The maximum sentence for conspiracy is five years in prison and a $250,000
fine. The maximum sentence for mail fraud is 20 years in prison and a
$250,000 fine. The maximum sentence for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and
a $250,000 fine. The maximum sentence for making a false statement in an
immigration matter is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Department of Homeland Security has a multifaceted approach to detecting
and investigating immigration and benefit fraud. ICE's Document and Benefit
Fraud Task Forces were created in March 2006 to target and dismantle
criminal organizations that threaten national security and public safety and
close vulnerabilities in the immigration process. USCIS created the Fraud
Detection and National Security Division (FDNS) to enhance the integrity of
the immigration systems and to identify persons who pose a threat to
national security or public safety. Cooperation between FDNS and ICE has
helped to increase the incidence of enforcement actions. More information on
these initiatives is available at www.ice.gov and www.uscis.gov.

The following agencies investigated or assisted in this case: U.S.
Attorney's Office, Southern District of Iowa; U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Fraud Detection and
National Security Division; U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector
General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Department of State; Kentucky
Consular Center (a field office of the Bureau of Consular Affairs); U.S.
Marshals Service; Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector
General; Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations; Des Moines
Police Department; West Des Moines Police Department; Iowa Department of
Transportation's Motor Vehicle Enforcement Office.

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation; a defendant is
presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Because this investigation
is in its early stages, it would be inappropriate to provide further details
on the case at this time. As this is an open federal investigation, until
further notice, the media is asked to direct any inquires on Operation
Pacific Vision to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Iowa's
Public Information Officer, Mike Bladel at (515) 473-9342. No other agency
is authorized to respond to questions on this matter.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003
as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE
is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law
enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland
security priorities.

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